1. The Research
Process
based on “The Research Process”
http://www.library.illinois.edu/learn/basics/researchproc
ess.html
Accessed 12/14/2011

2. 1.Choose Your Topic
2.Gather Your Sources
3.Evaluate the Sources
4.Cite the Sources

3. Choose Your Topic
INSTRUCTORS
TEXTBOOKS
MAGAZINES
BLOGS
ARTICLES OF INTEREST

4. Choose Your Topic
1. WHAT ASPECT ARE YOU INTERESTED IN?
Ex. The Death Penalty –
POLITICS & PUBLIC OPINION?
EVOLUTION OF METHODS?
COURT RULINGS DEATH SENTENCES?

5. Choose Your Topic
1. WHAT ASPECT ARE YOU INTERESTED IN?
Ex. The Death Penalty –
POLITICS & PUBLIC OPINION?
EVOLUTION OF METHODS?
COURT RULINGS DEATH SENTENCES?
http://fc03.deviantart.net/fs41/f/2009/054/b/
1/6_Headed_Hydra_by_moonscream.jpg

6. Choose Your Topic
2. WHAT GEOGRAPHY?
Ex. – The Death Penalty
SINGLE STATE?
STATE-TO-STATE COMPARISSON?
NATIONAL PERSPECTIVE?
GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE?
http://www.smart-kid-educational-
games.com/images/geography-games-3.jpg

7. Choose Your Topic
2. WHAT TIME PERIOD?
Ex. – The Death Penalty
500-1500 AD MEDIEVAL TIMES?
1200-1400 AD RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION?
1950-2012 AD MODERN DAY?
2012-2050 AD FUTURE PROJECTIONS?

8. GATHER RESOURCES
TEXTBOOKS
- Additional Reading at End of Chapters
- Examine Textbook Citations to Find More
DON’T REINVENT THE WHEEL
- Academic
- Trustworthy
- Legitimate
http://thecubelondon.com/files/2011/04/coo
l-inventions-one-wheel-motorcycle.jpg

9. GATHER RESOURCES
MAGAZINES
- Current! Issues concern Public Opinion or Trends.
- Typically Legitimate Information.
DON’T REINVENT THE WHEEL
TIME MAGAZINE
BLOOMBERG BUSINESS WEEK
FBI LAW ENFORCEMENT BULLETIN
http://www.akininc.com/images/Magazine%20Covers-
%20stories/FBI%20Law%20Enforcement%202-
05%20blog%20500.jpg

10. GATHER RESOURCES
BLOGS & INTERNET RESOURCES
- Current! Issues concern Public Opinion or Trends.
- Typically Legitimate Information.
- Dynamic, Search-able.
WWW.SEARCH.TWITTER.COM
WWW.FBI.GOV
WWW.CRIMINALJUSTICEFORUM.COM

11. GATHER RESOURCES
WWW.LIBRARY.KAPLAN.EDU
1. SEARCH YOUR TOPIC
2. ENTER YOU LAST NAME AND USER ID
3. REFINE YOUR SEARCH BASED ON FINDINGS
4. USE ARTICLE ABSTRACTS TO SPRINGBOARD YOUR
RESEARCH EFFORTS

12. GATHER RESOURCES
WWW.LIBRARY.KAPLAN.EDU
- DYNAMIC. SEARCH-ABLE
- ACADEMIC MATERIAL.
- EASY TO CITE
- ARTICLES ARE SUMMARIZED WITH ABSTRACTS
- PEER-REVIEWED JOURNALS
- (COMMITTEE HAS REVIEWED THE CONTENT BEFORE PUBLICATION)

13. EVALUATE RESOURCES
TEXTBOOKS
CLASSROOM MATERIALS
ARTICLES
ONLINE, INPRINT
ONLINE INFORMATION
BLOGS, ARTICLES, WEBPAGES

14. EVALUATE RESOURCES
TEXTBOOKS
Published by corporations.
Information is current, relevant, and accurate.
Textbooks cite their information,
include indexes,
and are themselves easily cited.

15. EVALUATE RESOURCES
ARTICLES
PEER-REVIEWED & INDEPENDENT
INFORMATION IS REVIEWED BY INFORMATION IS NOT REVIEWED
COMMITTEE OF PROFESSIONALS BY COMMITTEE OF
IN THE FIELD. PROFESSIONALS IN THE FIELD.
WRITING STYLE IS ACADEMIC. WRITING STYLE MAY BE
ACADEMIC.
USE CITATIONS TO USE CITATIONS TO SPRINGBOARD
SPRINGBOARD YOUR RESEARCH. YOUR RESEARCH.
MAY NEED TO VERIFY
INFORMATION.

16. EVALUATE RESOURCES
ONLINE INFORMATION
Look at the Author.
Have they written other materials?
Are they professionals in their field?
Look at the Affiliated Agencies.
Look for Copyright Information.
Examine the ABOUT US link.

17. EVALUATE RESOURCES
ACCURACY
Is there data? Does it make sense?
COVERAGE
Is it enough for your topic? Is the information unbiased
or opinionated?
AUTHORITY
Are the authors professionals in the field, affiliated with
agencies or universities, and published elsewhere?

18. 1.Choose Your Topic
2.Gather Your Sources
3.Evaluate the Sources
4.Cite the Sources